The father of a young girl is in custody and the 3-year-old is back with her mother after an Amber Alert sparked a citywide search Friday afternoon. NY1's Gene Apodaca filed the following report.

The mother of 3-year-old Ava Byrne was relieved moments after being reunited with her daughter, who was allegedly abducted by her father.

"I am feeling happy and I just want to go home and spend time with my daughter. Thank you," the mother said.

Byrne appeared unphased as the family left the 10th Precinct stationhouse Friday night following a harrowing day in the city.

"The girl was nice and calm," said doorman Kenny Holmes, who was a witness. "I don't think she really knew what was going on."

Holmes snapped photos as the rescue went down outside his building near West 34th Street and 10th Avenue just hours after a Pennsylvania Amber Alert warned that the girl had been kidnapped by Robert Byrne and was possibly in imminent danger in the area driving a silver Hyundai. 

Police say a good Samaritan spotted the car and warned traffic agent Md G. Ali.

"The guy told me the car is behind the truck, so then I said, 'OK, let me check,'" Ali said.

Police say Byrne pulled over but started walking away with Ava in his arms. That's when two other officers stepped in.

"They just kind of gently walked up on him and said, 'Can we have the little girl?' And he was a little hesitant at first, and then they kind of coaxed him in, and he gave the little girl to police," Holmes said.

"He was compliant with us. Went over the radio, asked for a couple of additional units. As everybody else was showing up, we were able to remove the child," said NYPD Officer Shawn Mooney.

Late Friday night, Byrne was taken from the precinct stationhouse to be extradited back to Pennsylvania. Those involved in the rescue were glad it all played out well for the little girl. 

"We're just happy that everything worked out the way it did and there was no incident itself," said NYPD Officer Rui Sanches.

"Thank you for whoever and everybody that helped. Thank you very, very much. We're very happy," the girl's grandmother said.

Police say they are hoping to track down that good Samaritan who spotted the vehicle to give him the credit he deserves.